In order to achieve the goal of making life near the railroads quieter, the village had to qualify by improving five street level crossings—191st Street, Schoolhouse Road, Mokena Street, Wolf Road and LaPorte Road—Pearson said.

The financial burden of making the improvements, which ranged from new signs to physical changes, was aided by state grants obtained through the office of state Rep. Renee Kosel, R-New Lenox, Pearson said.

Residents may still hear the occasional horn, he said, because engineers are allowed to sound a warning if they see an emergency ahead.

"It's a good quality of life issue for people (who live near the railroad lines)," Village Administrator John Downs said.

Mayor Joe Werner said the quiet zone status is a plus, but it doesn't remove the importance of caution. "We have to keep safety on the radar," Werner said.

The Village Board also learned of an honor presented to a 37-year employee. Utilities Superintendent Craig Heim recently received the Samuel Greely award from the American Public Works Association.

The award is a rare one only presented to those who have worked in the field for 30 years or more and have contributed to the advancement of public works, village officials said.

"Craig did a wonderful job," Werner said.

In other business, the board awarded a two-year mowing contract for village properties to Barry Landscaping of Lockport for $66,800.

Public Works Director Lou Tiberi said the contract covers about 160 acres, including the lawns of all village buildings, water towers, pumping stations, detention ponds and easements.

Privatizing the mowing frees up public works employees for other jobs, he said, and "the cost per acre is lower now" than when the department started hiring contractors in the early 1990s.

The contract also contains a clause eliminating mowing work in case of drought, he said.